Pinless diaper



Dec. 9, 1952 Filed Dec. 4, 1951 L. C. OBRIEN PINLESS DIAPER 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR Luella C. OPnP/Q ATTORNEYS Dec. 9, 1952 L. c. OBRIEN 2,620,798

PINLESS DIAPER Filed DEC. 4, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 lNVENTOR Luella C. O'Brien BY /2 a Add/Lily *w-MM ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES FFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an infants diaper of novel form; the diaper requiring no separate pins, and being held in place on the infant by snaps secured to the goods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pinless diaper, as above, wherein the snaps are so arranged to permit of ready and convenient adjustment of the Waist size of the diaper, as well as its waist to crotch length.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaper which is shaped in a manner to assure of a good fit on an infant; the diaper-when in usebeing comfortable to the infant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper which is of elongated form, which requires only folding upon itself lengthwise for use; there being no multiple foldingi. e. both lengthwise and crosswise-as in the use of a common type diaper.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a diaper which is very easy to put on or remove from an infant; the absence of pins and the convenience 'of folding being among the features which lead to this advantage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a two-ply diaper designed for ease and economy of manufacture; the diaper being of absorbent material cut on the straight of the goods, which simplifies production.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable pinless diaper, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished in the manner as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved diaper in an initially flat or unfolded position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the diaper as in use on an infant.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the diaper as folded for use but before engagement of the cooperating snaps.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but shows the diaper as folded for use on a very small infant.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the diaper comprisesas in Fig. 1an elongated, initially flat two-ply body I of absorbent cloth, preferably cotton flannelette.

The body I has the two plys thereof stitched together about the entire border, as for example at 2.

The elongated, normally flat body I is comprised of two lengthwise halves which may be termed an outer longitudinal panel 3 and an inner longitudinal panel 5; the latter panel being adapted to fold over onto said outer longitudinal panel 3. The line of fold transversely of the body I and at the adjacent ends of the panels 3 and A is indicated at 5.

The outer longitudinal panel 3 tapers perceptibly from its free end to the line of fold 5, whereas the inner longitudinal panel 5 has only a slight taper from said line of fold to the free end of said latter panel.

The outer or free end corner portions of the panel 3 provide corner tabs, indicated at 6, each such tab having thereon a row of female snap elements 1 which extends adjacent and parallel to the free edge 8 of such outer longitudinal panel 3. Such female snap elements 1 open to the outside of said panel 3.

Longitudinally inwardly of but adjacent each row of female snap elements 1 the panel 3 is fitted with another female snap element 9, also opening outside.

The inner longitudinal panel 4 is fitted, adjacent opposite ends, and close to the line of fold 5, with a pair of male snap elements IE! alined in a direction parallel to the line of fold 5, and which elements project from the outside of said panel 5.

The panel 3 adjacent but short of the line of fold 5 is fitted, on opposite sides, with single male snap elements I I, such elements projecting from the inner side of the panel 3.

In use of the above described diaper the inner longitudinal panel 4 is folded on the line 5 onto the outer longitudinal panel 3; the free or outer edge [2 of the panel 4 then alining with the free or outer edge 8 of said panel 3. The taper of the panel 3 is such that when the panel 4 is folded thereonto, the male snap elements I I lie laterally out from the corresponding side edges of said panel 4. As so folded the diaper engages about the crotch of the infant as in Fig. 2. Then the outer corner tabs 6 are inturned, disposing the female snap elements I in position for cooperative engagement with the then adjacent male snap elements [0 which are projecting toward said female snap elements I.

As there are three of the female snap elements I in each row and only two of the male snap elements H] in adjacent relationship, the connection can be adjusted so as to provide variation of the Waist size of the diaper.

When the male snap elements H] are engaged with corresponding ones of the female snap elements 7, the diaper is effectively secured about the waist of the infant without the use of any separate safety pins.

When the diaper is folded and secured on a infant, as in Fig. 2, the male snap elements I I are closely adjacent, and are snap-engaged with, the corresponding female snap elements 9; the purpose being to close the diaper at the sides between the waist and legs of the infant so as to prevent gapping.

In order that the diaper may be used on very small infants, the line of fold is moved into the panel 3; i. e. to a point adjacent but short of the male snap elements H; such line of fold bein indicated at I3. After the panel 4 is folded over the panel 3, with the line of fold at l3, a fullwidth tuck I4 (see Fig. 4) is taken in said panel 4 to shorten its length so that the free edges [2 and 8 of the panels will aline. Another purpose of the tuck I4 is to cover the male snap elements l so that they do not lie directly against the body of the infant when the diaper is in use.

With the diaper short-folded, as above, the male snap elements ll each are positioned for snap engagement with one of the female snap elements I in the corresponding row on the related inturned corner tab 6. The diaper can thus be folded to adapt it readily for use on a small-sized infant.

The diaper, as described above, while being of two-ply, is cut on the straight of the goods, which permits of ready and convenience manufacture of the article.

The diaper is very practical and reliable in use; its pinless feature being very advantageous.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such an article of manufacture as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth here- While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the article of manufacture, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon Which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A diaper, of absorbent cloth, comprising an elongated body having an outer panel and an inner panel in initially end to end relation and of substantially the same length, the inner panel being adapted to be folded onto the outer panel on a transverse line of fold, the outer panel being wider than the inner panel and tapering from the free end, outwardly opening female snap elements on the free corner tabs of the outer panel, corresponding outwardly projecting male snap elements on the corner portions of the inner panel adjacent the line of fold, corresponding ones of said male and female snap elements being snap-engaged upon redoubling of the so-foided diaper and inturning of said corner tabs, other outwardly opening female snap elements on the outer panel adjacent but longitudinally inwardly of said first named female snap elements, and inwardly projecting male snap elements on the out er panel adjacent but short of said line of fold and the sides of said outer panel, corresponding ones of said other female snap elements and said inwardly projecting snap elements being likewise snap-engaged upon said redoubling of the folded diaper.

2. A diaper, as in claim 1, in which said inwardly projecting male snap elements are exposed to the sides of the inner panel when the same is folded onto the outer panel.

LUELLA C. OBRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,242,977 Marcos May 20, 1941 2,301,277 Hazen Nov. 10, 1942 2,347,867 Alban May 2, 1944 2,410,374 Wiese et a1. Oct. 29, 1946 2,506,231 Meyer May 2, 1950 2,568,305 Slusser Sept. 18, 1951 2,568,590 Laser Sept. 18, 1951 

